Abstract

The socio-economic factor and children blood lead level in environmental lead exposure
Background: Low level lead exposures usually are coming from various environmental sources including air, food and water. This
has important implications with respect to its regulation. The socio-economic factors can also affect blood lead level in children.
This study was aimed to examine the influence of housing condition, earning and education of children’ primary caregivers on
children blood lead levels.
Methods: The study involved 54 children aged 5-10-years, coming from Gebang Sari, Sekaran and Moro Demak. Cross-sectional
design was adopted in this research. The collected data were analyzed using non parametric Wilcoxon signed rank test to determine
the mean differences of lead among the locations. OR prevalence and frequencies as well as cross tabulation of blood lead level and
housing condition, earning and education data were also analyzed.
Results: There were significance differences amongst Gebang Sari, Sekaran and Moro Demak children blood lead levels (p<0.05).
Gebang Sari ambient lead air was the highest compared to those of other two locations. Compared to Sekaran and Moro Demak,
Gebang Sari was dominated by higher children’ primary caregivers earning and education levels. OR prevalence of >10 ppb lead
cut-off for earning level was 2.332 (1.49, 3.65). OR prevalence of >10 ppb lead cut-off for education level was 2.092 (1.295, 3.382).
Conclusions: Children blood lead levels were not only influenced by ambient air lead but also by housing condition, earning and
education of their primary caregivers.